Assault ends in prison term

Crime occurred during alleged drug deal

May 7, 2013

ESCANABA - An Escanaba man was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison in connection with the assault of a Bark River man during an alleged drug deal last year. The sentence was handed down in Delta County Circuit Court Friday.

Jeffrey William Dickerson, 31, and co-defendant Scott Allen Wahl, 23, also of Escanaba, assaulted the 41-year-old victim during a meeting of the three on Dec. 17, 2012, near P Road in Bayview Location.

Dickerson was sentenced Friday to three to 10 years in prison on one count of larceny from a person. He was also sentenced to 136 days in jail on two counts of possession of analogues. He was given credit for 136 days served on both counts which will be served concurrently. Total fines and costs were $334.

Wahl was sentenced in circuit court in April. He was ordered to spend 18 months to up to four years in prison on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, also known as felonious assault.

Wahl was also sentenced to 18 months to up to five years in prison for attempted larceny from a person. He was given credit for 105 days served on both sentences which will be served concurrently. Wahl was ordered to pay a total of $266 in fines and costs.

During the day of the incident, Wahl and Dickerson met up with the victim below the railroad bridge between Gladstone and Escanaba to allegedly obtain illegal drugs from the man.

Wahl testified Dickerson hit the victim first. Wahl then hit the victim twice with a broken glass bottle and held him on the ground while Dickerson hit him again. After seeing railroad workers nearby, the two suspects ran from the scene.

The workers notified police of the injured person. A sheriff's deputy found the man. He was transported by ambulance to OSF St. Francis Hospital and treated for head injuries.

Wahl and Dickerson were each arrested for assault with intent to rob while armed, a life felony.

Dickerson was also arrested on one count of assaulting/resisting/ obstructing a police officer and one count of controlled substance - possession of analogues. The two were lodged in the county jail each in lieu of a $75,000 cash bond.